Release Bourbon County Barleywine

"Here’s some interesting news coming out of Goose Island today as a new Bourbon County brew will be hitting the streets at some level. No longer just limited to stouts, it looks like we’ll now see at least a limited keg release of Bourbon County Barleywine Ales. Ironically enough the Barleywine matches exactly the Bourbon County Stout’s 15% ABV. Stay tuned for more details."

Beer Trader

Beer Trader

I wonder if they looked at the success and popularity of King Henry and said, "Hey we can do this with other former BCBS barrels too, not just the Pappy 23 barrels." Because that would make a lot of sense.

That said, I was not trying to assume or claim that this barleywine is being aged in former BCBS barrels . . . but does anyone have information that might otherwise suggest something like that?

Edit: looks like tewaris and peensteen beat me to the same general idea.
Edit (2nd): hey, 4-packs of BCBBW would be pretty neat, too.

Beer Trader

I'm guessing with BCBS going year round now that they probably have made quite a bit of this and hopefully we will see a pretty big distribution as well. Probably taking BCBS place as a seasonal specialty. Least thats what I'm hoping for haha

Beer Trader

This is InBev marketing at its finest (or worst if that's your point of view).

They have a very popular brand, i.e. "Bourbon County" brand. Up until this point, there has really only been a stout released under the "Bourbon County" brand. Why not capitalize on this brand with other styles of beer?

Me and my hard earned dollars are in for this (since I don't believe that InBev is drowning puppies, or something else that would be considered immoral).

I wonder if they looked at the success and popularity of King Henry and said, "Hey we can do this with other former BCBS barrels too, not just the Pappy 23 barrels." Because that would make a lot of sense.

That said, I was not trying to assume or claim that this barleywine is being aged in former BCBS barrels . . . but does anyone have information that might otherwise suggest something like that?

Edit: looks like tewaris and peensteen beat me to the same general idea.
Edit (2nd): hey, 4-packs of BCBBW would be pretty neat, too.

Click to expand...

At the Black Friday event the brewers said (at the time) that they had 700 used BCS barrels filled with barleywine.

Beer Trader

Based off of the label and the aforementioned tweets, I don't think there is any doubt that this barleywine is aged in BCBS barrels. The real question is whether it is the same base barleywine used for King Henry. If so, then all of you who didn't get a chance to try King Henry can take solace knowing you soon will.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's not the Pappy 23/Rare barrels, but honestly, no one will be able to tell the difference. This is amazing news. Hooray for Goose Island listening to its customers!

Beer Trader

As many have been saying for the last year, AB would be crazy not to release another King Henry, and this is essentially it. Yes, it may be slightly different, and yes, it's not going to be called King Henry. But in spirit, this is likely going to end up as the same beer...

Beer Trader

This is InBev marketing at its finest (or worst if that's your point of view).

They have a very popular brand, i.e. "Bourbon County" brand. Up until this point, there has really only been a stout released under the "Bourbon County" brand. Why not capitalize on this brand with other styles of beer?

Me and my hard earned dollars are in for this (since I don't believe that InBev is drowning puppies, or something else that would be considered immoral).

Beer Trader

Both of those would severely devalue the brand. Assuming the folks at InBev understand why the "Bourbon County" brand has value, I would think they would be against anything that would devalue the brand. But I could see them making a Bourbon County Brand Wee Heavy, or some other style that could stand up to the barrel.

I think it's an awesome idea to branch out the brand. It's also a genius idea to find a way to second-use the spent BCBS barrels if that is indeed what they're doing.

As far as it being essentially the same as KH, I disagree. It will be a great brew, and even if they use the same base beer (Prince Henry), the barrels for KH, aside from being Pappy 23s, housed BCBS for two years. I imagine that would allow much more BCBS character to be absorbed into the wood and then transferred to the Prince Henry. KH is still going to be a special treat, but I'm really excited for this and hope it does make its way into bottles (12 ouncers, please).

Put me in the group that believes Rare was good because of the 2 year aging, not the PvW. Both Rare and King Henry could be made again using the same aging schedule in NON ELITE OMG WALEZZ BRO Heaven Hill barrels.